Christopher Scott Harris was killed Monday when a tree fell on the car he was in

Published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 7:59 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 7:59 p.m.

Friends of a popular bartender who was crushed by a falling tree this week remembered him Wednesday as a hard-working guy who was fun to be around.

Christopher Scott Harris, 28, was in the driver's seat of a Mitsubishi in the driveway of his home at 2316 NE 10th Court on Monday when a powerful thunderstorm passed over just before 4:30 p.m.

Strong winds and torrential rain uprooted a huge oak tree in a neighboring yard, toppling it onto Harris's car, according to Ocala police.

Dylan Harris, Chris' brother, heard the crash and ran outside. He saw the tree on his brother's car, then ran back inside to find him. He also went to a neighbor's home looking for his brother. It was when he called his brother's cellphone that he found him in the vehicle.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, several people who worked with Chris Harris recalled their times with him. John Pendleton, general manager at Cuvee Wine & Bistro, said he had known Harris for nearly seven years and that they had worked together at several area eateries. Pendleton said he was a manager at Carrabba's Italian Grill when Harris began as a server and worked his way up to bartender.

Before Carrabba's, Pendleton said, Harris worked at Taco Bell, where he also started at the bottom and worked his up to manager.

That was Harris' work ethic, he said.

“He was an all-around good individual, a genuine, good person who always was looking to do the right thing,” Pendleton said.

Pendleton said he later went to Mark's Prime Steakhouse downtown as restaurant manager and that Harris was a bartender there. Co-workers liked his positive attitude.

“I've never met a more well-rounded and trustworthy person in my whole life. He was a brother to many people,” said Matthew McCavera, an employee at the steakhouse.

Another employee, who gave his name only as Enois, said Harris was a “great person, someone you could count on, and had a bright future ahead of him.”

It was drive, ambition and wanting to learn more about the restaurant business that motivated Harris to work at various places, Pendleton said.

He and Harris also worked together at Tony's Bar & Grill, where Pendleton was general manager and Harris was a bartender and front house manager.

Tony's employee Billy Baker said Harris was a “fun person to be around, cheerful, always on time, a hard worker and an easy-going manager.”

Though he only knew him for a short time, Chris Sloan, a chef at Tony's, said Harris “always had a smile on his face and an unbelievable personality. He was so positive and uplifting.”

Sloan said Harris loved interacting with guests and “being around people. He wanted to have an impact on people's lives.”

Pendleton described Harris as a “younger brother” and said he had “a passion for great knowledge of bartending.” He said Harris started work about a month ago at World of Beers in Gainesville and was working there and at Tony's until he became full-time in Gainesville.

“His life was just getting starting,” Pendleton said.

He said what he will miss most about Harris was that his friend lived a good, simple life.

“He loved life,” Pendleton said.

As news of Harris' death spread, people who knew him were stunned.

“Nobody wanted to talk; we were in shock,” Sloan said.

Employees at Tony's said Monday was Harris' day off.

Dylan Harris, who also works at Tony's, could not be reached for comment, nor could other family members.

<p>Friends of a popular bartender who was crushed by a falling tree this week remembered him Wednesday as a hard-working guy who was fun to be around.</p><p>Christopher Scott Harris, 28, was in the driver's seat of a Mitsubishi in the driveway of his home at 2316 NE 10th Court on Monday when a powerful thunderstorm passed over just before 4:30 p.m.</p><p>Strong winds and torrential rain uprooted a huge oak tree in a neighboring yard, toppling it onto Harris's car, according to Ocala police.</p><p>Dylan Harris, Chris' brother, heard the crash and ran outside. He saw the tree on his brother's car, then ran back inside to find him. He also went to a neighbor's home looking for his brother. It was when he called his brother's cellphone that he found him in the vehicle.</p><p>On Tuesday and Wednesday, several people who worked with Chris Harris recalled their times with him. John Pendleton, general manager at Cuvee Wine & Bistro, said he had known Harris for nearly seven years and that they had worked together at several area eateries. Pendleton said he was a manager at Carrabba's Italian Grill when Harris began as a server and worked his way up to bartender.</p><p>Before Carrabba's, Pendleton said, Harris worked at Taco Bell, where he also started at the bottom and worked his up to manager.</p><p>That was Harris' work ethic, he said.</p><p>“He was an all-around good individual, a genuine, good person who always was looking to do the right thing,” Pendleton said.</p><p>Pendleton said he later went to Mark's Prime Steakhouse downtown as restaurant manager and that Harris was a bartender there. Co-workers liked his positive attitude.</p><p>“I've never met a more well-rounded and trustworthy person in my whole life. He was a brother to many people,” said Matthew McCavera, an employee at the steakhouse.</p><p>Another employee, who gave his name only as Enois, said Harris was a “great person, someone you could count on, and had a bright future ahead of him.”</p><p>It was drive, ambition and wanting to learn more about the restaurant business that motivated Harris to work at various places, Pendleton said.</p><p>He and Harris also worked together at Tony's Bar & Grill, where Pendleton was general manager and Harris was a bartender and front house manager.</p><p>Tony's employee Billy Baker said Harris was a “fun person to be around, cheerful, always on time, a hard worker and an easy-going manager.”</p><p>Though he only knew him for a short time, Chris Sloan, a chef at Tony's, said Harris “always had a smile on his face and an unbelievable personality. He was so positive and uplifting.”</p><p>Sloan said Harris loved interacting with guests and “being around people. He wanted to have an impact on people's lives.”</p><p>Pendleton described Harris as a “younger brother” and said he had “a passion for great knowledge of bartending.” He said Harris started work about a month ago at World of Beers in Gainesville and was working there and at Tony's until he became full-time in Gainesville.</p><p>“His life was just getting starting,” Pendleton said.</p><p>He said what he will miss most about Harris was that his friend lived a good, simple life.</p><p>“He loved life,” Pendleton said.</p><p>As news of Harris' death spread, people who knew him were stunned.</p><p>“Nobody wanted to talk; we were in shock,” Sloan said.</p><p>Employees at Tony's said Monday was Harris' day off.</p><p>Dylan Harris, who also works at Tony's, could not be reached for comment, nor could other family members.</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>